THERE are at least 43 males from Millicent and the surrounding district who are glad COVID-19 restrictions have recently eased.
Ranging in age from 16 to 90, they are members of the Millicent Men’s Shed which has recently reopened after an enforced hiatus.
At the direction of the Australian Men’s Shed Association, the Fifth Street facility was closed between March 24 and May 11.
Other than security checks of the machines and premises, the work benches and lathes were still for several weeks.
Millicent Men’s Shed secretary Chris Mathias said members accepted the closure due to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Mr Mathias, the age profile of the Millicent members meant they were vulnerable to the disease.
He said the Men’s Shed provided a vital degree of social connectedness at the Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday sessions.
Mr Mathias said a number of welfare checks by phone and home visits were conducted during the closure.
“The members were very keen to get back on site,” Mr Mathias said.
“We are back working on community projects along with commissions and private works.
“We are negotiating with Millicent North Primary School regarding the resumption of Friday afternoon sessions with the Year 6 and 7 boys.”
Mr Mathias said it was almost business as usual at the facility, but various COVID-19 protocols needed to be followed.
“There are requirements about signing in and out, social distancing and a limit on numbers in the building,” he said.
“We have three hand washing stations and we were practising this before the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Millicent Men’s Shed was established seven years ago and has achieved self-supporting status through membership fees and the sale of its wooden products.
It has oversight of the adjacent Millicent Community Garden which has also reopened after a brief closure.
Millicent and District Food Security Network members have been able to tend the garden again.
Another local institution to resume has been the Millicent Public Library, which reopened at 9am on Tuesday.
